Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has generated an estimated $408m (£239m) at the worldwide box office after its second weekend in US cinemas.

The North American audience brought in nearly half the total global takings as the film topped the US box office for a second consecutive week.

The fourth adaptation in the JK Rowling series took $54.9m (£32m) over the three-day Thanksgiving weekend.

Total US takings stand at $201.1m so far, beating the three earlier films.

The first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, took $183m (£109m) in the US in its opening 10 days in 2001.

Older audience

The success of the Goblet of Fire, directed by Britain's Mike Newell, has disproved speculation that the PG-13 rating in the US (12A in the UK) might hurt the film by scaring off younger fans.

"We've learned the audience has grown older with the movies, so the PG-13 rating just played into the core of the audience," said Warner Bros' Dan Fellman.

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Leading foreign markets for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire include Britain with $51.3m (£30m), Germany with $35.5m (£21m) and Mexico with $13.6m (£7.9m), according to Warner Bros. Pictures.

In Italy, the wizard blockbuster proved to be the country's best ever opening, taking $9.4m (£5.5m), while in Spain it took $8million (£4.6m).

"You've got to look at Harry Potter as being the saviour of the box office right now," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

"Who would have thought in a year we're having this down box office that we'd have the second-biggest Thanksgiving ever?"

Oil industry thriller Syriana is picking up early plaudits

Among other new releases at the US box office was the Dennis Quaid comedy Yours, Mine & Ours, which opened at number three with weekend takings of $17.5m, behind Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line.

Rounding out the top five were Disney cartoon Chicken Little, at number four, and Rent - based on the musical - which opened below expectations at number five.

The limited-release debut of oil industry thriller Syriana, whose ensemble cast includes George Clooney and Matt Damon, also took an enthusiastic $372,147 (£218,168) in five US theatres over the weekend.

The film opens across the US on 9 December, and in the UK in March 2006.